TicToc

Black Throne Conspiracy by K.M. Johnson-Weider

2013-04-23T06:25:00.000-07:00

Article first published as Book Review:Black Throne Conspriacy by K.M. Johnson-Weider on Blogcritics.

To move ahead in life easily, many will follow shortcuts, often using bad advice or methods. When these methods or advice cause terror and grief to others, is it too late to change? Does the guilt rest only with the party that agrees, or does the requester share some as well?

In Black Throne Conspiracy by K.M. Johnson-Weider, we follow the exploits of Sir Cobran Deritha. An army hero, he returns home with a shattered leg only to find a series of odd events occurring that put his family in jeopardy. He is forced to travel to the capital city only to find that his brother has arranged an engagement to a woman he has never met. His sister has foreseen a young noble woman will cease to exist, and asks for his help. Now his cousin is convinced that Cobran is the only one that can save him from ruin. As the events begin to play out, each separate from the other, Cobran begins to find faint seams tying the events together in a strange dance of danger. Behind the scenes an evil is at work that was thought to have been destroyed. Can he find the answers before the dark evil can create the events that threaten the entire galaxy?

Johnson-Weider has created a complex world and filled it with characters that we are comfortable with. Some are selfish and immature, others are strong and bold, but each hold flaws that can seriously twist their sanity. Cobran is a hero, one part damaged, two parts confused, three parts champion and four parts Sherlock Holmes. He is willing and mostly able to tackle the danger, but his injury creates difficulty.

Those involved in the conspiracy of evil are caught in some cases against their better judgment. Can Corbran extricate them from their dangerous decisions or is it already too late. Will he be able to save the young noble woman? Hi companions and friends are a fun and eclectic group and he brings them in to help him keep watch on her. His sister is another force to be reckoned with, working mysteriously in the background making things happen.

The world of Ascension Galaxy is interesting and consists of many differing places. While we hear mostly of the Concordance, there are other powers within the galaxy that also have a stake in the happening of Corbran’s world.

This is a complex work and to miss a section you may miss an event. If you enjoy science fiction and fantasy you will enjoy the worlds and the interesting mix of technology and archaic means. If you enjoy conspiracies, a bit of romance, suspense and a bit of magic, than this work will be what you need.

I enjoyed the story and the background, and once immersed found the work hard to put down. It would be a good read for a book club as well as a reading group. There is a great deal of discussion gendering actions that would keep the readers at full tilt.

Rating 4/5

This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based on my understanding of the material.

Days of Love and Blood by R.S.Carter

2013-04-18T18:58:00.000-07:00

Article first published as Book Review: Days of Love and Blood by R.S. Carter on Blogcritics.

Can there be a post-apocalyptic world in stories these days without zombies being the force of our enemies. With the popularity of the zombie horde I found it refreshing to find a story just a bit different.

In Days of Love and Blood by R.S Carter, the world is changed in short order. A virus with quick acting damage moves swiftly killing or transforming those infected making them much different than who they were. Cognizant of life they seek only to maim and kill, with no other focus. The virus is still in play yet slow acting, creating creatures out of your nightmares. Not zombies, for this new danger of lost souls are still thinking and have brains, yet they have a single purpose and that is to kill.

As Carson, a young woman escapes with her son Ronan, she is grief stricken with the brutal death of her husband. Looking for a new life, she heads for the only safety she remembers––her parents farm. Can they have survived the Demon virus that has decimated the entire world? As she makes her way, she uses all the skills she has learned to fend off and kill her attackers, as they track her mercilessly.

Protecting herself and her son, she finds a group of uninfected people very close to where she is headed. Warning them of her pursuers, she helps to fight and protect the group. Here she finds the human interaction she needs. Can she find love again, in a world that has gone crazy?

Carter has put together a dangerous and unique love story, filled with feeling and hope. Using characters that you can relate to, he draws you in to the world, where you experience anger, fear, friendship and love. Carson is strong and her shell is tough from her experiences, but she also has cracks in her armor that make her likable. Her son gives her that human touch that would be missing without his presence. She has skills with a sword and yet is helpless with a gun, so the interactions are sometimes brutal. She is also somewhat callus due to her experiences, but when the thaw comes you are enchanted.

If you enjoy the post-apocalyptic venue, and are looking for something beyond zombies, this is the book to take you there. If you enjoy romance and camaraderie, and the adjustments that come with finding a home and family in situations of daily struggle, you will enjoy the world created by R.S. Carter.

Days of Love and Blood is a step away from the usual, yet has the action and danger that keep you going. The challenges are tough and the feeling are tougher, so be prepared to find time to read in one sitting. You will find it difficult to put this down once you begin. You may find yourself checking your doors and looking out your windows, making sure your own safety is intact.

This would be a great book for a reading group, sending out shoots of spiraling discussions dealing with the different issues and choices that weave throughout the story.

Rating 5/5

This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Gates of Paradise by Melissa De La Cruz

2013-03-29T19:10:00.000-07:00

Article first published as Book Review: Gates of Paradise: A Blue Bloods Novel by Melissa De La Cruz on Blogcritics.

With the explosion of books and stories about the eternal struggle each view is like another layer added to what many believe in. The subject makes for good reading and adventurous treks through the depths of hell and back, often followed by unimaginable horror. So how does one make a mark and find a way to stand out from the rest in the tale of the epic struggle.

In the Blue Bloods Novel, Gates of Paradise by Melissa De La Cruz, you will find the characters that have become the epitome of both good and darkness over the course of the series. In the struggle to both close the gates of hell, and conquer their own darkness, inherent in their background, many of the core group struggles to survive. Follow the continued exploits of Jack and Mimi, as they are tested on their abilities to fight the Dark Prince, or fold to his power. Schuyler Van Alen unknowingly holds the secret to save them all, but can she find the answers before it is too late. In a world where much is hidden and alternate struggle continues unseen by most, fought by vampires and wolves, as well as angels both good and bad, many of those that have found some success in the past are suddenly no longer there. The darkness has found a way to win the war and the end inexorably moves towards an unimaginable ending. When Jack and Mimi find themselves with no way out, Schuyler is kidnapped as a sacrifice there is only one way out.

Is love truly immortal, able to cross all realms? Follow feats of courage and sacrifice as the beginning of the end comes with a blinding unexpectedness. Is the world ready to fall into the hands of darkness or with the light of love and right find a way through?

The characters and places throughout the book are an exceptional blend of realism as well as fatalism. The beauty and brutality of the scenes take your breath away as you watch for your favorites to emerge victorious. Your hurt and horror as some are struck down feel real as though you have known and loved them yourself. The horror of the sacrifice and the betrayals feel real, part of your own soul.

Da La Cruz builds a crescendo of excitement and mystery in her closing volume which will make you search to find the rest of the series. If you love the books of apocalyptic endings, the fight of good against evil and a great mystery, you will enjoy her work. Through in absolute love and sprinkle the mix with vampires, wolves and angels and you have a book that harkens to a variety of readers.

This is a great book for those that enjoy the epic battles of right and wrong, as well as the connoisseur of love stories, horror, vampire tales, and mysteries. A welcome addition to any library, this is one that can be read again and again. But make room on your shelves because you will want to find the rest of the series for their rightful place in this bold adventure.

Rating 5/5

This book was received free from the authors publicist. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Book Review and Giveaway:The Book of Paul by Richard Long

2013-03-13T21:30:00.000-07:00

Article first published as Book Review:The Book of Paul by Richard Long on Blogcritics.

Is it really possible for a parallel universe to exist, one right beside our own where those that inhabit both, live lives very different from those on our own existence? If so, what if this world was a part of the beginnings and endings of everything we believe to be real.

In The Book of Paul by Richard Long we meet some unique and interesting characters. But it is the world itself that takes you on a roller coaster of a journey, one that will both horrify and delight you, as you hit the highs and lows through the cast of characters that border on both genius and madness.

Paul is not who many believe him to be. For some he is a friend, and others a father figure, but only very few really know the truth behind his being. Having rescued Martin from and manipulative and deadly mother as a child, he raises him the best way he knows how. Or does he? There is depth and depravity, hidden from most, and Martin becomes a stone cold personality, with no one other than his foster father Paul who understands him.

But then he meets Rose, she too is damaged, yet holds a secret that she herself has hidden deep. Her own life is addicted to pain and sex, yet when she meets Martin, she immediately recognizes a feeling, that seems centuries old.

If these characters are not enough, there are watchers, and doers throughout the communities, each with their own brand of narcissism, waiting for their own entrance to the horror that continues to build as the pieces come together and the time for recognition comes through.

Often the “devil is in the detail,” and such is the case, but don’t leave out the angels or the existence of just about every form of belief you have heard of or imagined. With a sharp wit, and strong sense of the macabre, Long has delivered a work of horror that keeps you reading to the very end.

What happens? How do the characters survive, or do they? Can they stop Paul from his ever increasing frenzy?

If you enjoy historical religious and pagan beliefs, this book is chock full of information. If you like horror with your romance, then you will find yourself immersed in both. Long has written a fascinating and oftentimes horrific look into the depths of belief, and used an eclectic mix of differing histories to pull off a work that keeps you guessing.

This would be a great book for a discussion group, there is so much going on that you could read it untold times and still find something new. A group would find a great deal to discuss with all of the differing offers.

Even with the horror there is a sense of purpose, but be prepared to become immersed, keep the lights on and the doors locked, the horror will keep the chills flowing.

The Book of Paul Book Summary:

"Everything you've ever believed about yourself...about the description of reality you've clung to so stubbornly all your life...all of it...every bit of it...is an illusion."

In the rubble-strewn wasteland of Alphabet City, a squalid tenement conceals a treasure "beyond all imagining"-- an immaculately preserved, fifth century codex. The sole repository of ancient Hermetic lore, it contains the alchemical rituals for transforming thought into substance, transmuting matter at will...and attaining eternal life.

When Rose, a sex and pain addicted East Village tattoo artist has a torrid encounter with Martin, a battle-hardened loner, they discover they are unwitting pawns on opposing sides of a battle that has shaped the course of human history. At the center of the conflict is Paul, the villainous overlord of an underground feudal society, who guards the book's occult secrets in preparation for the fulfillment of an apocalyptic prophecy.

The action is relentless as Rose and Martin fight to escape Paul's clutches and Martin's destiny as the chosen recipient of Paul's sinister legacy. Science and magic, mythology and technology converge in a monumental battle where the stakes couldn't be higher: control of the ultimate power in the universe--the Maelstrom.

The Book of Paul is the first of seven volumes in a sweeping mythological narrative tracing the mystical connections between Hermes Trismegistus in ancient Egypt, Sophia, the female counterpart of Christ, and the Celtic druids of Clan Kelly.

Link to an excerpt from The Book of Paul:
http://all-things-andy-gavin.com/untimed/sample/

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Richard Long's Bio:

Richard Long writes to exorcize the demons of his past and manifest the dreams of his future. His debut novel, The Book of Paul, is a dark, thrilling, and psychologically rich supernatural horror/thriller that blends mythology, science and mystery into a page-turning addiction. Richard is also writing a YA novel, The Dream Palace, primarily so that his children can read his books. He lives in Manhattan with his wife, two amazing children and their wicked black cat, Merlin.

Prices/Formats: $19.95 paperback, $2.99-$3.99 ebook
Publisher: Open Eyes
ISBN: 9780615648644
Pages: 492
Release: June 2012

Amazon paperback buy link ($19.95):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0615648649?tag=tributebooks-20

Barnes and Noble paperback buy link ($19.95):http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-book-of-paul-richard-long/1111400572?ean=9780615648644

Kindle buy link ($2.99):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0088QYXGA?tag=tributebooks-20

Nook buy link ($3.99):
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-book-of-paul-richard-long/1111400572?ean=9780615648644

iTunes buy link ($3.99):

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-book-of-paul/id541134918?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

YouTube Video Author Interview HTML embed code:

Richard Long's Web Site: http://www.thebookofpaul.com/

Richard Long's Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/RichardLongAuthor#

Richard Long's Twitter:https://twitter.com/#!/RichardLongNYC

Richard Long's Blog:http://www.thebookofpaul.com/the-blo/

Richard Long's YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTjgdNUIpb9yhDraZ6dImiA?feature=guide

Richard Long's Google Plus:https://plus.google.com/u/0/105947820741052716703/posts

Richard Long's Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6426921.Richard_Long

The Book of Paul's Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15714590-the-book-of-paul

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

The Book of Paul blog tour site:http://the-book-of-paul.blogspot.com/

Heartache and Hope in Haiti: The Britney Gengel Story by Len and Cherlyann Gengel

2013-03-10T08:41:00.000-07:00

Article first published as Book Review: Heartache and Hope in Haiti: The Britney Gengel Story by Len and Cherylann Gengel on Blogcritics.

Nature often wreaks havoc on the world. Many times we see the destruction through the view of a camera, while other times the action is on our doorstep. Never sure where disaster will strike, when the damage happens elsewhere, we watch in sadness. When nature’s fury hits close to home, despair overcomes those involved.

In Heartache and Hope in Haiti: The Britney Gengel Story by Len and CheryLann Gengel , the authors share with us the pain and disbelief of such a powerful force. In 2010 their daughter Britney, a sophomore at Lynn University, traveled with a group of student to work for an aide group. This was their chance to give back to the world, and Britney in particular was touched. After a short time in Haiti, she determined that her life’s work would be to help open an orphanage in this country where hope was alive in its children. Yet only a few short hours later, an earthquake leveled Port-au-Prince and the Hotel she had been staying in.

Unable to reach her, the family lives in fear, alternately dreading and then excited by the news. But as with confusion and reporting, the news was often not just misleading but entirely wrong. Their Britney was never coming home again.

Here begins the life of rebuilding and how Len and Cherylann chose to take a vision and make it real. Shaking off their own grief, they take Britney’s dream and move it towards reality.

This is a heartfelt and hurt filled story, but filled with love and hope. To see how others transcend past the pain of losing a child and find a way to offer hope is a testament to that love. They chose to take that anguish and use the power of that pain to move forward and build the dream that keeps their daughter alive in a very different way.

While I had heard about the Earthquake, I was able to view it from afar where it didn’t touch me. Even hearing the stories and seeing the footage, the sadness and caring were there, but the destruction seemed remote and far away. With the Store of Britney and the Gengel’s efforts to make her wishes come true, you have no choice but to become a part of the devastation and pain. You feel the horror and the hope as they wait for news that will bring their daughter home. IF you have children this will tear at your soul. Reading the stories of the children and the people in Haiti, bring home the devastation in a way, that even pictures on the news were unable to capture.

This is a remarkable story, built with courage and love. The inspiration lends us an example of how goodness flows in even the worst of times. This would be a marvelous book for a reading group. The story pulls you in and the chills and despair felt by the Gengel’s becomes your own. Even the profits of the book are slated to benefit the Orphanage now built in Britney’s name for the honor of the children of Haiti. You cannot move away from this story unmoved. You will marvel at the tenacity of the will to make a dream succeed.

Rating 4/5

This book was received from the authors publicist. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

The Missing File by D. A. Mishani

2013-02-27T06:58:00.002-08:00

Article first published as Book Review:The Missing File by D. S. Mishani on Blogcritics.

Crime is an international evil, something that happens in every city in the world, and yet we often only hear of the most sinister of cases. The crime in our own part of the world connects with us more consistently and completely. Although many fictional detectives are of international fame, we are more cognizant of those in America.

In The Missing File by D. A. Mishani, we are taken into the heart of Tel Aviv, where for police Detective Avraham Avraham, there is little crime. For him when crimes happen, the simplest answer always seems to be the right one. When he becomes embroiled in the case of a missing school boy, he is sure the case will work itself out. He is so sure the boy is fine; he doesn’t even initially file a report. For him, Ofer will simply show up after staying with friends or some other likely sequence.

Yet when he does not show up, Avraham is bewildered. He is not prepared for the circumstances that seem to come to light as the days drag on. As the leads begin to come in, he is stunned at the complexity of answers that seem to be evolving. When the young man’ neighbor and tutor tries to help with answers, he finds himself a suspect as well. Yet as the neighbor weaves his own bizarre story, Avraham finds himself with an even different scenario than he could have imagined. Can he find the missing boy alive, or is it already too late? Has he made an error of judgment that will come back to haunt him for year to come?

Avraham is an interesting and eclectic personality. Steady and sure, he finds passion in finding the mistakes in the crimes solved by the best detectives in fiction novels. Each time he succeeds in finding the mistake, he begins to believe his own hype. Crime just does not happen in his city. He is so upset at the way things are going, he finds himself too easily distracted. Things are not going as he planned. Deciding to move forward with his own vacation, even as the disappearance is still being investigated, he finally begins to understand himself.

Ofer, the boy who disappears, seems like a wonderful lad. His neighbor certainly found him to be quite smart. Being a schoolteacher, his neighbor Zeev was a likely tutor when Ofer was struggling. Where Ofer was charming, Zeev is a bit strange. He doesn’t understand the red herrings he has littered through the investigation, and by the time he realizes his error, it is too late.

If you enjoy mysteries, you will find this an interesting work. The viewpoint of the detective is interesting, and makes him very likable. The crime set in such a place, gives us another view of the area, one rich in history. Avraham is an interesting person and makes you care about what is happening.

This would be a great book for a book club or reading group. This is a work of contrasts, one to keep the conversation going for some time. The suspense will keep you reading as Avraham finds the answers to the mystery of the missing boy, as well as to his own sense of self.

Rating 3/5

The Wrath of Angels by John Connolly

2013-02-13T06:46:00.003-08:00

Article first published as Book Review:The Wrath of Angels by John Connolly on Blogcritics.

The darkness and anger of the fallen is often talked about by those who believe. Angels that have fallen from grace become the monsters of our dreams.

In The Wrath of Angels by John Connolly, we follow Charlie Parker, a man who has been involved in such happenings for some time. No one is sure of his own pedigree, and the question remains—is he also one with a taint on his soul? He does not believe it; he believes that he is on the side of right. Hunting down the monsters as they work at annihilating those that oppose them, he has seen many things. Often in the middle of both sides he is regularly challenged at his stance. Darkness descends in all directions, and those who oppose are on a list. This list is sought after by both sides, one for death, the other for knowledge. The Collector walks as well, ready to finish the job of stealing souls and moving them on. When Charlie finds his own name on the list, he knows the Collector is on his own trail.

When he hears of a plane in the darkest part of the forest, one that carries another list, he knows he must begin the search. There is more at stake than any of the residents can imagine. The danger of discovery put those with knowledge at risk. As each of the witnesses is killed in brutal fashion, Charlie must race against time to reach the plane before the fallen do. But he remembers a story of these same woods from years ago. This story is of a young girl, another danger that lures the unwary. Can he stay ahead of the collector, and retrieve that which is written before it is too late?

John Connolly has written a tale of darkness and deceit, and sprinkled it with bits of good. The fallen angels are dark and destructive, but well placed in the world. Able to hold sway over those that have their own darkness through the form of money or threat, they have built a small army of dangerous men and women. His characters are real and creepy, with the ability to steal into your dreams. The brutality and graphic nature of the ritual killings stay with you long after you set down the book. The darkness and description of the characters take you there, and hold you spellbound. This is not a work for the weak of heart.

If you enjoy thrillers and tones of the underworld, this will fill the bill. The mystery surrounding the plane will keep you captivated, and the characters will give you chills. Charlie Parker is an excellent character, tough and resilient, and he has surrounded himself with his own group of friends. He is sure of his own character, even when those around him have questions. He is smart and full of passion for what he does.

This is a thriller that will hold you captive to the very end. This would make a fascinating read for a reading group, and a strong argument for a discussion group. Charlie Parker is a character to watch for.

Rating 4/5

This book was received free from the authors publicist. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Review and Giveaway: Untimed by Andy Gavin

2013-02-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

Article first published as Book Review: Untimed by Andy Gavin on Blogcritics.

Have you ever felt alone? Possibly even invisible to others, while the world goes on around you? Does your name elude those who you have just been introduced to, followed by blank stares of puzzlement?

In Untimed by Andy Gavin, we find such occurrences that seem out of place and time. When a young boy sees a curious figure, mechanical in nature, he decides to follow. Charlie has been one of those that seemed to be invisible all of his young life. Even his mother had difficulty remembering his name. His father was never home, his work kept him occupied, so Charlie felt like an odd outcast. When he sees this strange anomaly, he is fascinated but also very scared. Looking much like a living clock, he begins to refer to it as the Tick-Tock man.

As Charlie follows him, he finds himself in another dimension, a different time. What he has just accomplished is impossible, or is it? Immediately upon arriving in this new past, he is robbed by a pickpocket, a young girl who appears more vivid than anything else in the entire landscape. He must follow her for his belongings, but the vibrancy also calls to him. When he finally finds her, he realizes she is very much like him. Only she knows more about time travel, and the entire traveler’s history than he could even dream about. The Tick-Tock men are dangerous to those like them, and as they escape through time, they set off a chain of events that threaten the ruin of the world as they know it. His father has found a way to leave him a message, he has been captured, and it is up to Charlie and his new friend to make things right. Can they pull off a feat that not even the most seasoned and knowledgeable time travelers have been able to accomplish?

Gavin has given us a fun and energetic romp through time, littered with history, unforgettable characters and charm. He draws different scenarios as history is changed in blundering fashion by this young duo, as they attempt to undo the damage they began. The characters are engaging and the clock men become a strange enemy. The interesting retakes on re-made history are fun, and the emergence of the shadow selves adds interest.

Be prepared to leap into adventure with Charlie and his friends, working against the clock and the Tick-tock men to save the world though the ability they are born with, of traveling through time. Meet the most interesting of people throughout the past, as history is changed in an effort to divert disaster.

If you enjoy mystery, adventure, time travel and science fiction you will enjoy this work. A young adult novel, it will also cater to those that are young at heart and history buffs.

This is a fun and unique take on time travel and you will enjoy the trip.

Untimed Book Summary:

Charlie’s the kind of boy that no one notices. Hell, even his own mother can’t remember his name. And girls? The invisible man gets more dates.

As if that weren’t enough, when a mysterious clockwork man tries to kill him in modern day Philadelphia, and they tumble through a hole into 1725 London, Charlie realizes even the laws of time don’t take him seriously.

Still, this isn’t all bad. In fact, there’s this girl, another time traveler, who not only remembers his name, but might even like him! Unfortunately, Yvaine carries more than her share of baggage: like a baby boy and at least two ex-boyfriends! One’s famous, the other’s murderous, and Charlie doesn’t know who is the bigger problem.

When one kills the other — and the other is nineteen year-old Ben Franklin — things get really crazy. Can their relationship survive? Can the future? Charlie and Yvaine are time travelers, they can fix this — theoretically — but the rules are complicated and the stakes are history as we know it. And there's one more wrinkle: he can only travel into the past, and she can only travel into the future!

Link to excerpts from Untimed:
http://all-things-andy-gavin.com/untimed/sample/

Andy Gavin's Bio:

Andy Gavin is a serial creative, polymath, novelist, entrepreneur, computer programmer, author, foodie, and video game creator. He co-founded video game developer Naughty Dog and co-created Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter. He started numerous companies, has been lead programmer on video games that have sold more than forty million copies, and has written two novels.

His first book, The Darkening Dream, has been well-received by fans and critics alike. Publisher’s Weekly called it “gorgeously creepy, strangely humorous, and sincerely terrifying.” Untimed is an even more ambitious follow-up. It is a lavish production with a cover by acclaimed fantasy artist Cliff Nielsen and twenty-one full page interior illustrations by Dave Phillips.

Prices/Formats: $5.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback, $24.00 hardcover
Publisher: Mascherato Publishing
ISBN: 9781937945053 ebook, 9781937945046 paperback, 9781937945039 hardcover
Pages: 325
Release: December 19, 2012

Amazon paperback buy link ($14.99):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1937945049?tag=tributebooks-20Kindle buy link ($5.99):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQN4OZS?tag=tributebooks-20

Please enter for a chance to Win a copy of Untimed by Andy Gavin. Sign up using the rafflecopter below. This givaway is sponsered by Tribute Books.

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Entry for Givaway of Untimed by Andy Gavin

2013-02-04T10:39:00.001-08:00

Untimed Book Summary:

Andy Gavin's Bio:

Andy Gavin is a serial creative, polymath, novelist, entrepreneur, computer programmer, author, foodie, and video game creator. He co-founded video game developer Naughty Dog and co-created Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter. He started numerous companies, has been lead programmer on video games that have sold more than forty million copies, and has written two novels.

His first book, The Darkening Dream, has been well-received by fans and critics alike. Publisher’s Weekly called it “gorgeously creepy, strangely humorous, and sincerely terrifying.” Untimed is an even more ambitious follow-up. It is a lavish production with a cover by acclaimed fantasy artist Cliff Nielsen and twenty-one full page interior illustrations by Dave Phillips.

Prices/Formats: $5.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback, $24.00 hardcover
Publisher: Mascherato Publishing
ISBN: 9781937945053 ebook, 9781937945046 paperback, 9781937945039 hardcover
Pages: 325
Release: December 19, 2012

Amazon paperback buy link ($14.99):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1937945049?tag=tributebooks-20
Kindle buy link ($5.99):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQN4OZS?tag=tributebooks-20

Please enter for a chance to Win a copy of Untimed by Andy Gavin. Sign up using the rafflecopter below. This givaway is sponsered by Tribute Books.

Watch for reviews and enter for your chance to win.

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The Woman From Paris by Santa Montefiore

2013-01-30T17:53:00.002-08:00

Chance to win a copy Givaway Ends today, January 31st. Now is your last chance to enter.

Article first published as Book Review: The Woman From Paris by Santa Montefiore on Blogcritics.

Grief creates an emotional gulf that can travel in any direction. Often without thought, rage and jealousy come forth. Tenderness and feeling are pushed aside. Grief can tear a family apart, or build a stronger unit. The emotions create such a cavalcade of chaos; often that which is torn asunder never heals.

In The Woman from Paris by Santa Montefiore, we meet a young woman as she encounters members of the deceased’s family for the first time, during the reading of the will. In a place out of time, she finds there is something that draws her, making her want to connect in any way she can. They do not know her, and yet they open their arms, enfolding her in their grief and healing.

But she is a woman with a secret, a story that could tear apart the very foundations she has begun to build. Her own pain is beginning to lighten, and love seems to be available from an unexpected source. Yet what will happen when they find out the darkness of the truth she is hiding.

Invited into their circle she becomes as one of the family, but she knows that her house of cards could over balance at any time, tossing her into a maelstrom of heartache. Having survived one of the greatest tragedies of her young life, she is on the cusp of regaining what she had thought gone forever.

Greed and jealousy though are never far away, and just as it seems that she can finally trust her new family with the truth, blackmail sets the stage, slamming the door on everything she has gained. Cast adrift, she no longer knows where to go or what to do. Those that have severed the ties, feel the angst and heartache as well, suddenly something is missing, a glow, a simple feeling of living. Without the woman from Paris, life is bleak and drab. Can they learn to forgive and begin again?

Montefiore has given us a beautiful story of joy and heartache. The characters move through each of the facets of grief, including the anger. Phaedra, the young woman from Paris, is caught up in a series of events that create a divide, one that is carefully supported. If even one rope slips, she will lose the tenuous control she has gained. Each of the family is depicted in stark contrast, the good, the bad and the exceptional. The interaction drags you in, and the feeling holds you there. You feel both the joy and pain felt, when the truth becomes known.

The joy she infuses in her work shines throughout, a message of hope and love, of being open to change. Forgiveness and love come in strange packages, and we are treated to a wonderful rendition of courage.

If you enjoy contemporary novels, romance, and all the things that go with it, you will want to add this treasure to your library. It is a feel good story, full of exuberance and passion and threaded with hope. Score another winner for Santa Montefiore, this is an exceptional find.

Santa Montefiore's Web Site:
http://www.santamontefioreauthor.com/

Santa Montefiore's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/15366494539/

Santa Montefiore's Twitter:
http://twitter.com/SantaMontefiore

Santa Montefiore's Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/77013.Santa_Montefiore

The Woman from Paris Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13547111-the-woman-from-paris

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

The Woman from Paris blog tour site:
http://thewomanfromparis.blogspot.com/

The Woman from Paris Book Summary:

When Lord Frampton dies in a skiing accident, a beautiful young woman named Phaedra appears at his funeral, claiming to be the Lord’s illegitimate daughter. In his will, Lord Frampton has left her the priceless Frampton suite of sapphires, confirming her claim and outraging his three adult sons and widow, Antoinette. Eventually, however, Phaedra’s sweet nature thaws the frosty relationships. She becomes the daughter that Antoinette never had and a wise and compassionate granddaughter to the formidable Dowager Lady Frampton. But an undeniable attraction grows between Phaedra and Frampton’s eldest son, David. It seems an impossible love—blocked by the fury of one family member determined to expose Phaedra as a fraud. Featuring the enchanting characters, scenery, and emotional complexity her fans adore, The Woman from Paris is a sweeping, sophisticated romance about family, forgiveness, and the surprising strength of love.

Santa Montefiore's Bio:

Santa Montefiore is the internationally bestselling author of several novels, including The French Gardener and The Last Voyage of the Valentina. She lives in London with her husband, historian Simon Sebag-Montefiore, and their two children.

Prices/Formats: $25.00 hardcover, $11.99 ebook
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 9781451676686
Pages: 400
Release: February 5, 2013

Amazon buy link ($25.00):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1451676689?tag=tributebooks-20

Barnes and Noble buy link ($25.00):
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Simon and Schuster hardcover buy link ($25.00):
http://books.simonandschuster.com/Woman-from-Paris/Santa-Montefiore/9781451676686

Kindle buy link ($11.99):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007EE4ODY?tag=tributebooks-20

Nook buy link ($11.99):
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-woman-from-paris-santa-montefiore/1109156291?ean=9781451676709

Simon and Schuster ebook buy link ($11.99):
http://books.simonandschuster.com/Woman-from-Paris/Santa-Montefiore/9781451676709

Free Givaway for The Woman from Paris by Santa Montefiore

2013-01-29T20:50:00.000-08:00

Please leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of The Woman from Paris, entries excepted until January 31st. Please leave an email address, so I can get a address for the winner.
Tribute Books will be supplying the work.

This is a wonderful feel good story, full of fun, passion and hope. Good luck

U. S. address's only,

Orders From Berlin by Simon Tolkien

2013-01-28T16:48:00.002-08:00

Article first published as Book Review: Orders from Berlin by Simon Tolkien on Blogcritics.

Winston Churchill was a man of many secrets and mystery. Known throughout the world, he was recognized as a great leader, and one of the kingpins that helped bring down Hitler.

In Orders from Berlin by Simon Tolkien, we are taken back to a place in time where the world was at war, and strategy had to do with both what and who you knew, and how well you could dupe the enemy. While Hitler did not want a war with England, Churchill knew that he had to stop him at all costs, even that of his own homeland being bombed. The fear of his aggression and the depth of his atrocities were not something to take lightly.

As Hitler finally realizes that they are not ever going to be allies, he manufactures a plan to have Churchill Assassinated. A mole deep within the government, a double agent, is set to create the diversion and eliminate the great leader of the English people.

As one murder occurs, to set the stage, there is one officer who is not convinced they have dug in deep enough. Scotland Yard Detective Trave feels like there is more afoot. The clues scatter in too many different directions, and the crime is solved too quickly. The death of a high placed member of the M16s offers more confusion than clues. When he tries to find answers he runs into a brick wall. His hands are tied.

Can he find the mole hidden so deeply, there are none who believe the evidence? Will he be in time to save Winston Churchill, and stop the deadly forward move of the 3^rd Reich?

Tolkien takes you back in history to a time where England is under attack. He brings stark relief to the rubble and danger inherent in the bombing of the countryside, and the death and dying of those in London as the attacks continue. The blackouts and bomb shelters create and eerie settings, making you feel the fear of those involved. He does an amazing job of taking you into the streets, with the continued air raid sirens trying to outpace the sirens of ambulances and fire trucks. You find yourself visualizing the war torn rubble.

His ability to put you in the mind of the politics of the day is a direct reflection of his ability to engross you in the conversations and action. This is an abject lesson in history, riddled with mystery and danger.

This would be an excellent book for the library of the history, or mystery buff. It is a thriller in the best of ways. The undertones of the book drag you in and hold you there. This would be an excellent reading club book, creating a depth of discussion. Simon Tolkien is a first rate author, the grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien, he carries the torch of persuasion and excitement to the next generation.

Rating 4/5

This book was received from the authors publicist. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

The Moon is not for Sale by Wallace Provost

2013-01-21T11:24:00.001-08:00

The race to the moon has been a topic of interest for many years. Is it habitable and if so how do we address the concerns with the actual colonizing of such a place?

In The Moon is not for Sale by Wallace Provost, we are taken into the future where not only has the moon begun to fill up with inhabitants, it becomes a place of natural resources necessary to keep Earth afloat, but also a dream for some of finding a different home. What begins with Helium spreads out into gold and other precious metals.

Beginning with an accident that throws together two young people, we are taken on a journey into the very beginning of an interesting colonization, and the family that has made it happen. Annie is only there with a group a students, but the accident strands her on Clint’s family farm until another shuttle can get her back to Earth. Living on the surface of the moon is impossible, and the farm is underground in a tunnel that keeps the family free of all the damages that occur on the surface. With gravity being so different from Earth, there is only a short time span that one can spend on the moon before they must leave, or stay to become a resident. Those that stay are known as Luneys.

Annie has no intention of staying regardless of her developing feelings for Clint. She is on her way to becoming an attorney, and she is bound and determined to follow it through. It is with sadness and internal pain that she finds the hiatus over and she is on her way back to Earth to continue with her own plans.

Little does she know that as she pursues her own destiny, it will swing in a fashion unintended from the beginning? This change will bring her back to the moon and the man she now understands that she loves. Will she be able to follow her dreams and reap the rewards from both ends?

Provost has written a gem of science, littered it with fiction, and twisted the two together to make a story of hardship and love. Alternating between storytelling and scientific fact, as well as a bit of fiction, you are on a journey into the unknown. Somewhat like the pull of the gold rush, the availability of finding a home on the moon, or just becoming a miner, makes the moon a place of interest. When it is declared that homesteading and mining are allowed but that the moon is not for sale, there are those that will do whatever it takes to change that law.

If you enjoy science fiction, and stories of adventure you will find this work to be interesting. For me the back and forth between fiction and science was a bit difficult, and some things I found to be tedious, but often science seems that way.

Provost has an interesting voice, new to the writing world. The Moon is Not for Sale is an interesting take on politics and greed, which often leads to disaster. But he has found a way through, keeping the moon pristine for generations to come.

Rating 3/5

This book was received from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Book Review and Givaway-The Tartan Shroud by Ken Dalton

2013-01-08T19:01:00.001-08:00

Article first published as Book Review: The Tartan Shroud by Ken Dalton on Blogcritics.

When murder happens the police are quick to respond. But what happens if for some reason they seem unwilling to pursue the case. Is there someone they can call to delve into the matters that they are unable to legitimize?

In The Tartan Shroud by Ken Dalton, we follow the exploits of Pinky and Bear, a notable but oddly nicknamed pair of investigators who are drawn into this strange set of circumstances by Pinky’s ex-wife Willow. Off to Scotland to meet and work with Fergus Murray, the top crime officer in Toyside, they find that something quite odd is going on. Fergus seems unwilling to pursue the case, but wants the help of this odd duo.

The pair is full of comedy and at pains to show the other up, but through it all they are held in check by Flo and Ettamae who agree to go along, as well as the winsome ex-wife, Willow. She is certainly one who can get Pinky to do her bidding, and Bear knows that without his own input, Pinky would be lost. Can they find the murderer and stop him before he kills again. What is in store when even Police’s finest is holding information that cannot be shared?

Dalton has given us a fun suspense filled mystery with the trappings of a dynamic duo full of comedic errors and delays. He treats the entire sequence as a jolly mystery, and along the way his investigators are treated to the delicacies of the place, as well as the differing expressions and occasional bad weather. Utilizing the differences of the Scottish as compared to the American backgrounds, learning about haggis, mutton pie and a wonky eye, they are at wits end when they finally get the information they need to solve the case.

If you enjoy a good suspense full of odd and absurd red herrings you will find this to be an enchanting find. IF you love good comedic wit and the interplay among comical pundits, each with the understanding they are more intelligent than the other, you will love Pinky and Bear. Bear is a great hearted man, gruff but kind, enamored of his family. Pinky is the quintessential lothario, in love with the idea of love, and remains friends with all his erstwhile conquests, including ex-wives.

This is a fast paces and funny work, you will find yourself laughing at the exploits and surprised at the mystery. Entertaining and full of charm, you will find the story as well as the combatants to be a work of art. Dalton is an author to be watching for.

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Ken Dalton's Web Site: http://www.kendalton.com/

Ken Dalton's Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/KenDaltonMysteryWriter

Ken Dalton's Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4343552.Ken_Dalton

The Tartan Shroud Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16104371-the-tartan-shroud

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The Tartan Shroud Book Summary:

A bulldozer unearths a young girl’s body on a golf course in Scotland but for some reason, Fergus Murray, the top crime officer in Tayside seems unwilling to pursue the case. Fergus contacts Willow Stone, his American cousin and pleads for help. Willow, Pinky’s favorite ex-wife, calls in all her chips and convinces Pinky, Bear, Flo, and Ettamae to go to the small Scottish town of Pitlochry to help her cousin find the killer. Along the way the American’s come across a forester with a wonky eye—haggis—the occasional bad weather spring day—various Scottish policeman all named McSomething—mutton pie—a near new, sixty-year-old Austin Taxi—a bathroom that could double for a freezer—the nearly indecipherable Scottish accent—many glasses of whiskey and beer—ancient records—a broadsword—and a real Duke! Ride with Bear, Flo, and Henry during their final mad dash across Scotland to try to stop the murderer before he kills again inside the hallowed halls of Blair Castle.

Ken Dalton's Bio:

Ken Dalton was born in 1938 at Hollywood Hospital. He grew up with his parents, his older sister, Pat, and younger brother, Richard in Los Angeles. The year 1938 informs the quick reader that Ken’s older than a lot of people, but younger than some.

In a turn of bad luck, the dreaded Polio virus found Ken.

At the end of World War ll, Ken’s family moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming for a year where he learned how to live through snow blizzards, avoid walking through the large pile of coal in the basement, and how to survive life as an Army Officer’s brat on a base called Fort Warren.

By the age of sixteen, after eleven years of operations, therapy, and braces, Ken’s luck changed dramatically when he met the girl of his dreams at a party. A few years later they married, produced three wonderful children, and settled into a happy life in Southern California.

In 1966, Ken, who worked as a technician for Pacific Bell, and his family left Southern California for the green hills of Sonoma County where they bought a home in Sebastopol surrounded with apple trees. A few years later, Ken and Arlene built a new home on three and a half acres. They raised cows, pigs, and learned how to build outstanding fences. While their children grew, they hosted two exchange students, Eva Reimers from Sweden, and Tanja Wuttke from Germany, both of whom are still loved members of the Dalton clan. Also during those years, Ken was promoted to management at Pacific Bell. He eventually ended up responsible for all the central offices, sixty-three, in an area that covered five counties.

In 1977, Ken, Arlene, Bob Wiltermood, and his wife Norma, designed, built, and operated a 2000 case winery named Pommeraie Vineyards. They produced award winning Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. However, after Bob died, the winery was sold. Ken and Arlene moved to a hilltop in Healdsburg.

With the winery gone, and time on their hands, Ken and Arlene started to perform with the Camp Rose Players. Twenty years and forty productions later, both are still acting and singing.

Life was good. All Ken had to do was learn some lines and bow when the audience applauded.

Then, ten years ago, Ken started to write. His first article was published in Golf Illustrated in August 1996. More golf articles followed in national and regional magazines including Golf Magazine and Fairways and Greens.

After a two-year stint on the County Grand Jury, Ken felt the need to begin his first novel.

Now, after a decade of struggle to learn the craft of writing, Ken has become the publishing world’s latest overnight sensation.

Prices/Formats: $14.95 paperback, $4.99 ebook
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780578113258
Publisher: Different Drummer Press
Release: October 1, 2012

Amazon paperback buy link ($14.95):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0578113252?tag=tributebooks-20

Barnes and Noble paperback buy link ($14.95):
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-tartan-shroud-ken-dalton/1113475200?ean=9780578113258

KenDalton.com paperback buy link ($14.95):
http://kendalton.com/

Kindle buy link ($4.99):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009Q80KMU?tag=tributebooks-20

Desperate Sons: Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Hohn Hancock, and the Secret Bands of Radicals Who Led the Colonies to War by Les Standiford

2013-01-07T06:51:00.003-08:00

Article first published as Book Review:Desperate Sons: Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, John Hancock, and the Secret Bands of Radicals Who Led the Colonies to War by Les Standiford on Blogcritics.

The History of our past and the beginnings of our liberty and freedom are a constant reminder of what it takes to make a strong America. Schools teach us the history in the fashion it has been taught for hundreds of years, yet there must be more. Who were these entrepreneurial men, ready to put their lives at stake in the pursuit of liberty?

In Desperate Sons by Les Standiford, we are accorded a history of the radicals known as the Sons of Liberty, those who put their lives on the line in an effort to give the colonies the right to be a part of their own rule, and if that failed, find a way to gain their liberty from a nation that was intent on using them to build their coffers. The intrigues and ideal of this secret group of young men, begin as a few muttered concerns, but bring about the Revolution and the freedom and liberty of America as we know it.

Some of the names are known for numerous reasons and often are accorded their place in history, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and John Hancock to name a few, but there was more to the depth of the accounts that stirred up the hornets’ nest that became a revolution. With both sides taking a strong stance, ego was a powerful weapon. When peace was a possibility it would take only the fire of incredulity to fan the breezes. Many of the actions and happenings are documented, other are just told from bits and pieces passed down through generations, but there is no doubt that the men between these pages had an incendiary part of the happenings of the fate of all those in the colonies during the time before revolution raised its head.

Standiford has taken us on a journey into the past, into the very lives of the men we find most interesting. The organization and building of such a strong radical force took time and strong conviction, and Samuel Adams was full of both. With his other compatriots they set the stage for fairness, freedom and liberty. Unlike the histories from our early school years, Desperate Sons draws you in to the insidiousness of trade and taxation, and how it affected the early settlers. The consequences of such actions could not have been foretold as they came to happen.

If you enjoy history and politics this is a must have for your library. Many of the concepts and ideas are well charted and organized. This would be an excellent book for a reading or discussion group. Be prepared to bring your arguments.

This is a fascinating read, taking you to the depths of flame that still flickers to this day. The actions set in motion a finely crafted set of events the progressively lead to the American Revolution.

Rating 4/5

This book was received free through the publicist. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Cork Town by Ty Hutchinson

2012-12-26T21:12:00.000-08:00

Article first published as Book Review:Cork Town by Ty Hutchinson on Blogcritics.

We often hear of cover-ups in crime and politics, but what happens when the two coincide. When innocent lives become the fallout of corruption, who really wins? Who is there to unveil the truth?

In Cork Town by Ty Hutchinson, we are introduced to the darkness and depravity of a cover-up that seems to be rooted in the past. When a serial killer begins copycat killings in Detroit, Agent Abby Kane is dispatched with her partner, from their home office in California. Known for her ability to find the truth, she is nevertheless confused. Everyone in the precinct seems to shy away from talking about the first crime spree, the one that is being copied. When trying to find answers, she runs up against a solid front of denial. Finally allowed to visit with the original killer in prison, she only learns that he is guilty of murder and bank robbery, but even he insists that he didn’t do any cutting. Yet many of his victims were cut, including his girlfriend. Her visit only adds further questions, leading her back to some form of cover-up and a swift move to justice. But why?

When the original perpetrator is found dead in his cell, and executives of the auto industry begin turning up dead, she is at her wits end. Like being in a pinball machine, she hits bumpers in every direction she turns, spinning her off into other tangents. Trying to keep her home life separate, she finds herself trying to deal with both, but with little success.

Can she find the answer to the darkness that buries the truth before other lives are lost? Is the secret too entrenched to discover. As bodies continue to turn up, she races against the clock in an effort the stop the madness. Who can she trust when the house of cards begins to tumble and all avenues are a dead end?

Hutchinson has brought us another hero, a short of stature, but long of brass female agent. She is fun and feisty, fiery and bold, but also just beginning to realize what family means. Endangering herself is not just about her any more, but what it would mean to her children. While a bit absurd, her continued texting in the middle of danger, is cute and just a little distracting. But she seemed unfazed and able to handle the small annoyances it brings.

When she realizes she has fallen for her partner, the story heats up a bit but disappointment and heartache are only a few pages away.

If you enjoy action, and a bit of savagery, you will enjoy Abby Kane, the agent in charge. Cork Town gives us background and a bit of history, along with a seriously disturbed killer. The red herrings are plenty, and the action is continual, keeping you deep in the pages.

This would be a great book for a book club. Abby Kane is a new hero to be watching for. I look forward to her further exploits.

Rating 4/5

This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Givaway entry for The Tartan Shroud by Ken Dalton

2012-12-26T13:26:00.001-08:00

The Tartan Shroud Book Summary:

Enter below to win a copy of the Tartan Shroud. The Drawing is done through Tribute Books. Good luck, you will enjoy this work.

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Giveaway ends February 1st, Stay tuned for an indepth reveiw on January 9th.

Linked by Emma Hill

2012-12-17T13:15:00.000-08:00

You can never go back. One of the lessons we learn as we grow older is that even as we wish for the past, even returning to the roots we left there, we find change. Is it because the place has changed, or is it that as we get older, we outgrow the trappings of our former years and move on? We do not always realize that home is where we make it, not in what once was.

In Linked by Emma Hill, we are transported to the life of Matt Clevene as he leaves his lavish business in England, and heads home to Australia to visit his uncle. Reminiscing about life as it has changed; his uncle shares the harrowing details in the death of his nephew a few years before. Hearing the details are tough, he has already lost both his parents and has finally let go of his anguish. His foray to visit his uncle causes him further surprise as he soon realizes that along with the background information about his nephew’s death, he is realizing that his uncle was much closer to his mother than he imagined.

As he takes it all in, he also notices a new neighbor in the house next door. His uncle has only the best to report about the woman that lives there, but warns Matt that she is a recluse. Something about her strikes his interest and he intends to meet her. Ready to delve further into the mysteries and find out what he can about the past, he is stunned by the sudden death of his uncle.

As he waits for the autopsy, and tries to make sense of the tangles of life that have closed around the bowels of his family, he finally meets the neighbor Sarah. As elusive as his uncle described, he is smitten. Every step of the way he makes the wrong turn, and within a very short time, his business is under scrutiny and close to being closed, and people around him are beginning to die. There is something at play that he does not understand, but can he find the secret before it is too late?

Hill has given us an interesting mystery with just a hint of paranormal. While it does not come into play in this work, we have an inkling of something that is happening that we are not privy too. The first of a series, there is an interesting plot in play that makes you want to hear more. Both a romance and a mystery, the story is interesting.

The interplay between characters however is rather stiff at the beginning, and while some of the characters come through clearly, the development could use just a bit more on the others. Beginning somewhat slowly the story broke through and the interest ratcheted up, creating a stronger interest. The romance between Matt and Sarah was stilted, but it may well have been planned that way. The author has set it up neatly to continue on to the second of a series, but I felt a bit let down as the story wound down.

The work is interesting, and with further development could be a strong and fun series. If you enjoy romantic mystery and light reading this will fill the bill.

Rating 3/5

This book was received from the marketing assistant. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the information.

Conneticut Tragedy

2012-12-14T22:32:00.000-08:00

As with others, I listened to the news, not understanding what I was actually hearing. Who would target young children in such a cowardly action. Who would take the lives of those who have just barely begun to live?

Unsure how to react I can only send my prayers and love to those who are in the middle of this unbelievable moment of madness and despair. The pain and fear suffered by those parents who had to wait to hear if their own child or loved one was safe had to be dreadful. The joy and relief on one hand, or the grief and disbelief on the other. How do you prepare for such a tragedy? There is no answer, because there is no conceivable reason to believe this could happen.

In the time of year where families draw closer, to have such an abrupt and unacceptable shooting take place and to target those who have offered the least offense to anyone, creates a heartbreak for the entire country and the world. The pain and fear of those affected will last a lifetime, for those present and the families of all that were there today. The world stood still for a moment, a breath of time, and in that instant many lives were changed forever.

Please send your love and prayers to those who are suffering and for those who were lost today. Mourn with those who lost everything they had planned for, for we have all lost something today in the midst of this tragedy.The joy of freedom is fickle and can be wiped away in a moment--today we had such a moment.

My condolences to the families to all of those affected. My prayers are with you all.

Leslie

The Fart that Saved Christmas written by Jacob Morningside and illustrated by Nadja Andrasev

2012-12-11T06:41:00.000-08:00

Article first published as Book Review: The Fart That Saved Christmas by Jacob Morningside, Illustrated by Nadja Andrasev on Blogcritics.

If you are looking for the lighter side of Christmas you will find your wishes in The Fart that Saved Christmas; An Adults Tale written by Jacob Morningside and illustrated by Nadja Andrasev. Written In the style of Dr. Seuss, Morningside has written a fun tale of the woes of fate that linger behind the lives of Santa and his not always so Merry crew. When the reindeer decide they have had enough and call a strike, it seems that everyone will take sides.

Listing their grievances including those having to do with Santa’s weight to his wife intruding in their home life and to the Elves mocking them, they are loud and boisterous with their concerns. As Santa understands the nature of their thoughts, he is not about to step down.

He becomes belligerent to the point that the reindeer have concerns for his very safety.

This is a fun look at the lighter side of life, a chance to meet the darker side of Santa. The rhyming is satirical and at times sophomoric. The challenges and charges fit the stories and as the reindeer begin to see the error of their complaints the course changes for all involved. But can they diffuse the situation before it is out of hand.

If you enjoy humor and are looking for that special gift for the holidays, this does the trick. Short and raunchy it will tweak your funny bone, launching you into an explosion of laughter and fun. A treat to pass around at your holiday parties, the humor is contagious.

Watch your guests though as they may begin to have ideas of their own in how to enliven a party, that may not be consistent with that of your neighbors.

Can’t find a gift for that adult that has everything? This may be just the fun to try on.

Jacob Morningside's Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Fart-That-Saved-Christmas/136942536447992

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

The Fart That Saved Christmas blog tour site:http://thefartthatsavedchristmas.blogspot.com/

The Fart That Saved Christmas Book Summary:

The behind the scenes story of what really happened "The Night Before Christmas."

It's Christmas Eve. The reindeer go on strike with a list of demands for Santa, the elves and Mrs. Claus. Santa gets "loaded" and threatens to cancel Christmas, fire the deer and divorce Mrs. Claus. But, just when all seems lost, Christmas is saved by a timely fart.

Jacob Morningside's Bio:

Born into a body inhabited by multiple muse personalities, I create stories by stretching the "normal" beyond the boundaries of the absurd. The result is a worm-hole ride to the Far Side. I love a good story — so, I wrote one. Enjoy it with my wishes for a happy holiday season.

Price: $4.99
Format: Ebook
Pages: 40 illustrated
Publisher: Publish Green
Release: September 6, 2012

iBookstore buy link ($4.99):
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-fart-that-saved-christmas/id560241061?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Tortured Spirit: Book Four in the Jake Helman Files Series by Gregory Lamberson

2012-12-10T18:47:00.002-08:00

Article first published as Book Review: Tortured Spirits: Book Four in the Jake Helman Files Series by Gregory Lamberson on Blogcritics.

A fascination of sorts exists and has for many years about the advent of zombies and other various creatures. Even those that do not believe in the idea that such things exist often find a bit of time to view the various movies for the sake of the horror they often evoke or the book for a spot of disconnection from reality.

In Tortured Spirits by Gregory Lamberson, we follow the exploits of his main character Jake Helman, a private investigator that is deep into the lore of such things. An ex-cop, he finds that his profession as an investigator is more than he bargained for in many different ways. Having already been in serious battles with an army of demons, zombies and a variety of other types of creatures, he is now on a quest to save his best friend.
What he doesn’t expect is that Maria Vasquez, his best friend’s partner, has her own plan. That is to join him and find out what is going on in the mysterious life of Jake. Only knowing that her partner has disappeared, she knows that Jake knows the answer. But she is unprepared for what she finds.

Putting aside her skepticism, she joins forces with him in his attempt to find the one person who can help him in his goal to return his friend. There is a catch; he must first rescue her husband. The danger in this task is palpable, but she is the only one who can help him. Her husband, a political refuge, is being held on an island that is a law in itself. Darkness covers the area, and the inhabitants live in constant fear of retribution, but Jake and Maria have no choice. Can they break into the prison and rescue the prisoner, escape with him back to the states and still live to tell the tale? Do the rumors that abound about the creatures that live there, hold any merit?

Lamberson has delivered us a hero with strength and an ego. His exploits remind me much of the character, Jack Reacher, of Lee Child fame. The difference is in the dangers they face, one more human and the other the stuff of nightmares. The ability to blaze through the sequences hold a fascination, and when Maria Vasquez joins in, the going becomes a higher caliber.

While Helman is the main character, in this particular episode, Vasquez with her personality and ability to get out of tough situations steals the scene time after time. The action is fast and deadly, with unexpected twists and turns that keep you reading far into the night. Be assured that you will keep the lights on and the slightest noise will give you a start.

There is richness to the action that takes you there, and even with the advent of zombies and demons, you can visualize the events. The color is clear and the action sucks you in. If you love action packed thrillers full of creatures and characters that you only dream about, this would be a book for you. If you find this to your liking you will be interested to note that it is a part of a series of books featuring Helman, known as The Jake Helman Files. Be prepared for a wild ride into a world much different than the one we now know. Or is it?

Rating 5/5

This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver

2012-12-02T15:27:00.001-08:00

Article first published as Book Review: Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver on Blogcritics.

Can the beauty of nature distract us from the reality of what changes in her behavior can mean in our world? One of the most beautiful of nature’s creatures is the butterfly, majestic and noble, with a grace that captures the hearts and souls of many naturists. A Change in the migration patterns of these beauteous creatures would be an anomaly to the science world, but could bring about misunderstanding in the community that becomes their home.

In Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver we are taken into a place in Appalachia where a rare and concerning change in behavior of the monarch butterflies has changed the behavior of a family and a town. The lives of the Turnbow family become inextricably linked with the migration as the butterflies choose to settle on a part of their property that has been slated for clear-cut.

Dellarobia Turnbow feels like an outcast in her family. Caught up in marriage at an early age she still finds herself craving that something more. On her way to an assignation that will change her life, she feels a chill of premonition of how this will affect her life. The thought of her children and her marriage, create sadness, but the excitement pulls her. Heading into the wilderness area of the property owned by the family for generations, one that has been slated for clear-cut; she is startled by the vision of the sky in flame. The orange color broils and twists, in a show of beauty and danger. To her, this is a clear sign that she cannot resist. Turning and making her way back to the life she now lived, she felt the vision was a sending from god.

Not sure how to move forward though, she finely tells her husband that he needs to walk the area, and make sure that his father is doing the right thing with selling the timber off. After pushing in this direction, she is finally vindicated when he acquiesces and follows her up into the mountain. The discovery of the butterflies is interpreted as an act of god, and turns the town on their heads. The influx of entomologists and the involvement of the news turn the countryside into a place of curiosity.

This is a beautiful piece of work describing the changes made with global warming, and how the effects of weather disturb the natural progression of the seasons. As the changes evolve, so does the Turnbow family begin their own evolution. A family entrenched in their beliefs, they move inexorable towards a truth that life must change.

To stay the same in beliefs and work in their own little place in the world does not change the tides of nature. Kingsolver gives us a story full of heart, and heart ache, delivering the tribulations of a family in denial and crisis. She uses the advent of beauty to bring out the depth of secrets lodged in a family mired in lies and pain. The truth of nature seems to guide her characters to their own truths, and a healing that is necessary.

Will the migration actually create the ending for these beautiful creatures and as well as the end of a family held together by deception?

The Flight is an interesting take on global warming, but it also takes you into the personal lives of a family that has hidden much of their pain and existed in a vacuum of hope that tugs at your heart.

If you enjoy finding the beauty in nature, and the overcoming of personal turmoil, you will enjoy this work. The description of the event is amazing and beyond the scope of expectation. This would be a great work for a reading group or discussion group.

Rating 4/4

Revenge of the Mad Scientist by Lara Nance

2012-11-18T16:06:00.000-08:00

Article first published as Book Review:Revenge of the Mad Scientist: Book One by Lara Nance on Blogcritics.

A bit archaic yet eminently popular, Steam Punk is a genre of writing all on its own. Full of inventions or the possibility of inventions from the early 19^th century, writers have taken to using the backdrop for novels of adventure and mayhem.

In Revenge of the Mad Scientist by Lara Nance we are introduced to a world of steam power and gaslights, one of differing nations vying for supreme power and the creation of chaos. When the Lord High Minister of Urbannia is kidnapped just as their country is on the verge of signing a peace agreement, blame is laid to rest on Gandiss, the very country in question. The kidnapping is handled during the celebration of the event, directly after the Minister’s daughter, Lady Arabella is introduced to the Lord of the realm in question.

Once the kidnapping comes to light, Lord Ismatan is rushed away by his men for safety reasons, but not before he assures Arabella of the innocence of his country. Giving her a ring to wear and use in case of need, he disappears before he can be arrested for the deed. Arabella is the only one who believes that Ismatan is innocent while all suspicion falls directly on him and his country of Gandiss. Knowing her father’s life is in danger, she realizes that she must be the one to react.

Her faithful servant and her young charge, a boy she rescued from abusive behavior because of his difference, become a part of her retinue in her quest to find her father. It seems to be the only solution to head off a war between the nations, and Arabella is well aware that no one else is looking in the right direction.

As she finds the captain of a Steam airship that is willing to take her to her destination, she unintentionally sets into motion a series of events that will change the lives and destinies of all involved. She herself is kidnapped by slavers and escapes with another only to find that her fellow abductee is related to Lord Ismatan of Gandiss. The coincidences continue to pile up as danger falls around the small group that is beginning to grow. After the crash of her hired aircraft, fate puts another complication in her life. The only ship now available seems to be run by the man who left her at the altar years before.

Can she trust her fate and the fate of her father to such a ruffian? She knows she has no choice; her father’s life hangs in the balance. Can this band of misfits rescue her father and put a stop to the war that is now brewing?

The genre of steam punk is exciting and interesting. Nance does a great job of modeling the circumstances and describing the machinery and inventions that I find very interesting. In some novels the events of the story overshadow the background, yet Nance continues to interject with the variety and description of the steam punk props, whether it is the machinery, the clothing or the other interesting gadgets that strike our interest. At the same time she weaves a story that moves forward with purpose.

Interspace the entire event with knives and guns that also set up visuals, the novel moves at a smooth pace. There is certain believability about many of the modes of weapon and transport, much like those that carried the likes of Jules Verne on his fantastic voyages.

Nance also delivers on characters that have flaws but draw you in to their issues and problems. You find yourself cheering as they find ways around the foibles that exist. If you enjoy Steam Punk you would enjoy this world. It is a fascinating journey into the unknown, and has the ability to take you there.

Rating 4/5

This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Bitter Brew by William Knoedelseder

2012-11-11T14:25:00.001-08:00

Article first published as Book Review: Bitter Brew by William Knoedelseder on Blogcritics.

Known as the King of Beers, Budweiser was not always the brew we know it as today. Just before and a short time after prohibition, Budweiser like many other beers of the time was bitter and weak. Only after the Generation of Anheuser-Busch and their involvement in the repeal of the laws of prohibition, was an all-out effort made to take a brew and make it stand out from the rest.

In Bitter Brew by William Knoedelseder, we follow the years and history behind the brew, and yet the story cannot be complete with the family and the foibles that were a part of this small kingdom. The year 1933 is when prohibition was abolished and the golden years of Budweiser and the reign of the Anheuser-Busch family.

Adolphus Bush, a German immigrant, worked diligently to save up enough money to open a brewery supply company. His fortunes changed when an early customer, Eberhard Anheuser came into the brewery though a defaulted loan. When Adolphus married Anheuser’s daughter Lilly, the dynasty was set, although there was no way of knowing this at the time. Adolphus became very involved in the brewery and became the first brewer in the United States to pasteurize his product, giving it a longer shelf life without fear of spoilage. He built rail ice- houses to move his product giving him the ability to move his beer longer distances. He also began buying up some of the local taverns giving his beer an undisputed home. All of this helped them to become the nation’s first national brand of beer.

Prohibition was brutal for all breweries and Anheuser-Busch was no different. The family though held the ear of the president and was very involved in the political arena. With the death of Adolphus, August Sr. took the reins of the company. Never giving up the fight for the repeal of prohibition and their fortunes dwindling, they continued running the business and keeping people employed though the worst of time, making a name for themselves.

Bitter Brew, though is about the family and their lives, and their interaction in the lives of others. In the golden years after the beer wash changed using a new recipe, the business became about the people that worked in the breweries and the business. We follow the ups and downs of the family itself but also that of friends and workers. There was something magical about being involved in the Budweiser family; a caring and reaching out to those that were a part.

This is then also about the ending and the changing of the guard, and the difference of a company that had been a part of the American landscape and involved in the backdrop of the prohibition era. Looking back at the heartache and heartbreaks, like looking backwards from a kaleidoscope, where all the disjointed pieces still fit together within the whole, and how the changes of venue no longer held the same heart.

If you are interested in history and the growth of a dynasty, you will enjoy this material. I found it quite fascinating reading, and felt sadness in the pit of my stomach as I neared the end. The story includes so much, including the commercial success and personal growth to the beginning of the Clydesdale as the mascot of the company. It also delves into the darkness of both privilege and power.

A marvelous book for the library, this would also make a great reading club or discussion group addition. It is full of heart and feelings as well as the ending of a Golden Age.

Rating 5/5

This book was received free from the Publishing company. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Books To Die For Edited by John Connolly and Declan Burke

2012-10-30T17:20:00.001-07:00

Article first published as Book Review:Books to Die For edited by John Connolly and Declan Burke on Blogcritics.

An avid reader for most of my life, I find that my taste is very eclectic. However, as far as I can remember mystery novels have been just that one step ahead in my heart. Can it be that sense of fair play, or the fact that in most cases the responsible party has to pay? I am not sure of the fascination, but I am told that passion is worldwide. Having my own favorite mystery writers, based on their own thoughts and stories, I have often wondered what it is that guides them. Who were their own mentors and favorite authors?

In Books to Die For Edited by John Connolly and Declan Burke, the mystery is solved (so to speak.) Filled with history and references to the best works of mystery fiction, such as those of Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, John Lecarre, and many others, we not only learn more about these fascinating novels, but we are given the opportunity of that view through the eyes of our favorite authors today.

Each chapter is dedicated to a particular novel, one considered to be exceptional for many reasons, including those that have changed the face of how works are written and accepted by the public. As we delve into each of the books, we find them narrated by one of today’s mystery writers.

What I find fascinating is that not only is the work broken down and deciphered in a way that helps you to understand the thoughts behind the scenes and characters, we are also give the opportunity to know more about the person behind the book. Often that in itself is the great mystery.

Who would not want to know about the life of Poe or Dickens, what is was that drove them and the realities of their lives outside of writing. I some cases writing is the life of the author, but for most they were a very well connected and busy group, with ties to many different types of work. Some were tortured and tormented within their own mind, but each has a fascinating story.

I was impressed at the depth of the knowledge and research that went into each piece and really appreciated the spin that took me back into the history of some of these all-time favorites. I would be remiss in mentioning that the authors narrating and breaking down these world greatest mystery novels are also considered the most well-known and respected Mystery writers of today.

The list is varied and the author’s works are also considered some of the best. Such greats as Karen Slaughter(apt name by the way,) Jeffery Deaver, Joseph Wambaugh, Kathy Reichs, and Declan Burke to name a few, put their spin on works that have withstood the test of time.

If you are a fan of mystery, this is a must have for your library. One of a kind, this work is full of nuances and ciphers, brilliance and mayhem, and it is all broken down in such a way that I find myself wanting to go back and read the works described–with a different mindset.

This would be an excellent work for a reading group, and even more for a discussion group. The information and background is exceptional, and how this formed the writers and helped them to pen some of these important and brilliant works would be great fodder for discussion.

Rating 5/5

This book was received free through the authors publicist. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.